I’d definitely change the ending of my first film today: Shoojit Sircar

Shoojit Sircar’s latest film I Want to Talk’, based on a true story of a cancer survivor, hit screens two weeks ago. Abhishek Bachchan plays Arjun Sen who has to undergo a life-altering surgery, while navigating through a complicated relationship with his daughter. Shoojit is best known for films like ‘Piku’, ‘October’, Vicky Donor and ‘Madras Cafe’, among others.

In a conversation with Showtime, the director retraces his almost two-decade journey in Hindi cinema and admits that his latest directorial “grew out of the fear and stress we experienced during the pandemic”.

Excerpts:

Where did you find the courage to make an uncompromising film like ‘I Want to Talk’ that makes no allowances for the boxoffice?  

Having your own voice is important in any form of art and I’ve always protected my voice. The people around you, your roots and surroundings, even your insecurities, all impact the story you choose to make and reflect in your craft. Don’t repeat yourself, move on. Age and experience give a new perspective not just to the films you make but also to the ones you watch.

Twenty years ago, I saw Satyajit Ray’s ‘Aparajito’ through a different lens. When I watch it now, I understand better the turmoil of the protagonist. As the generation gap between his mother and Apu grows, he wants to run off to Calcutta, and she lets him go, despite feeling lonely and abandoned, even keeping her illness from him so his studies aren’t interrupted. When he finally returns to his village, she has passed away, and the image of him sitting under the tree, crying, made such a strong impression, as did young Smaran Ghoshal who created magic on screen.

Do you see any connection between Apu and your adolescent self?

Well, at that age nobody wants parents around. Kids just want to be left alone to smoke, drink, attend rock fests and binge with friends. I too was clueless about my future then. I just wanted to play, watch films, act in them…

You wanted to be an actor?

(Laughs) Yeah, back then I saw myself as a hero, till I realised I didn’t fit in anywhere. Then, I discovered the language of cinema and I wanted to…

Direct?

No, even when I was doing theatre, that wasn’t on my mind. I was thinking of post-production when in 1998, I got to direct an ad film. It was a lot of pressure, but when it came out, it gave me a real kick and set me off in the right direction.

If you could make your first film, ‘Yahaan’, today, would you do it differently?

The basic spine of the story would remain the same, but maybe I’d treat the songs differently and I’d definitely change the ending. Even in my earlier draft, Captain Aman is fatally shot in the mosque before the militants are caught and Adaa and her young sister return alone. I even shot this ending, but after much dilemma, switched it during the editing as everybody thought being my first film, ‘Yahaan’ should have a happy ending.

What about later films when there was no pressure on you?  

I wouldn’t change anything in ‘October’. In ‘Piku’ I might extend the conversations. There were 10-minute scenes which I trimmed, but now, I feel, even if I extended the film by half an hour, people would enjoy it.

Did being cut off from the world during the Covid-19 lockdown bring changes in your cinema?

‘I Want to Talk’ grew out of the fear and stress we experienced during the pandemic. It addresses not just physical health, but also mental health and underlines how you can fight it out.

After doing Piku, Pink and Gulabo Sitabo with Amitabh Bachchan, how was it working with Abhishek?

Abhishek and I knew each other quite well and he wanted to work with me. That’s important for me as opposed to convincing an actor and moulding him my way. Also, as the middle-aged father of a daughter himself who had studied in the US and lived the American life, he fit the part of Arjun Sen perfectly. And since he was ready for his big second innings, he had no issues showing an unhero-like physicality.

He reminds one of Mr Bachchan in so many ways...

Yes, but I also saw a lot of his mother in Abhishek, he has Jaya di’s eyes, her purity and vulnerability.

What was Arjun Sen’s reaction?

He loves it. He keeps saying he never imagined someone would make a film on his life. He’s grateful for all the love coming his way, that ‘I Want to Talk’ has connected him to many more people.   

Given the geopolitical conflicts around the world, wouldn’t this be an apt time to re-release Madras Café?

Good idea, I’ll talk to my producers.

What’s next?

Deposit my electricity bill, finish a lot of pending chores and clean out the house before my daughters, Koyna and Annanya, come home next week.